LA galbi set and shrimp tempura near Cheongju bus terminal: Oneul Haru

I was looking for somewhere to get a solid Korean meal near the Cheongju express bus terminal and ended up at Oneul Haru (오늘하루).

I usually love Korean meals where you get rice and meat together, and hearing that the LA galbi (LA-style short rib) set comes with stone-pot rice and a bunch of namul (seasoned vegetable) side dishes, I wanted to try a proper meal here.

The LA galbi set at Oneul Haru, in one line

The set came with stone-pot rice, soup, and a variety of namul side dishes, so the table felt generous, and it was great that I could grab even more banchan and kimchi from the self-serve bar.

On top of that, the shrimp tempura I ordered as a side was crispy and delicious, so overall it was a satisfying meal. I'd recommend this place if you want a tidy, proper Korean spread in a clean atmosphere!

• ⏰ Hours: 11:00–22:00, daily
• 🚗 Parking: underground parking available

Finding Oneul Haru near Cheongju's bus terminal

The exterior felt clean and tidy. The sign near the entrance was big enough that I could find it easily even on my first visit, and the whole place had that comfortable feel you'd expect from a Korean restaurant.

What's on the menu at Oneul Haru

They mainly serve set meals, pork cutlet, and soba, mixing Korean and Japanese dishes.

Inside the dining room

As soon as I walked in, I liked how warm and clean the overall atmosphere felt. The wood-toned interior with plants placed here and there gave it a cozy feel, and the big windows let in plenty of sunlight, making the whole space feel even brighter. There were also group tables, so it was easy to eat comfortably.

The window seats in particular had a nice view outside, which made the mood really good for eating.

Once the food I ordered arrived, the table was more generous than I expected. Centered around the stone-pot rice, there was grilled fish, meat, and a bunch of side dishes, so just looking at it felt filling! There were plenty of different banchan too, so it was fun picking through them one by one, and overall they were mild, not-too-strong Korean side dishes that went well with the main dish.

What comes with the LA galbi set

When I ordered the LA galbi set, it came out as a full table of LA galbi, stone-pot rice, soup, and a variety of namul side dishes.

First off, there were several kinds of namul banchan, each with a different texture and flavor, so it was great to mix them into the rice bit by bit. Having so many kinds of namul made the meal feel much lighter than just eating meat alone 🫶🏻 And the seaweed was really tasty seaweed, so wrapping everything up with it made for the best combo!

There was also a warm seaweed soup, which was nice to sip on between bites of meat and rice. Overall the mild, not-too-strong Korean side dishes went really well with the LA galbi.

Stone-pot rice and sungnyung (toasted rice tea)

The rice came in a stone pot instead of a regular rice bowl, which I liked even more. I ate the warm rice with the LA galbi and namul, and at the end of the meal I even got to enjoy sungnyung (toasted rice tea) made from the rice left in the pot!

Is the shrimp tempura side worth adding?

I also ordered shrimp tempura as a side 🦐 The LA galbi set alone was already a generous spread, but adding the shrimp tempura gave me something nice to pair alongside it. The shrimp were crispy and hefty, and eating them warm made them extra hearty, nutty, and delicious!

What's at Oneul Haru's self-serve bar

There was also a self-serve bar, and it was convenient that on top of the default side dishes, you could grab as much of whatever banchan you wanted. In particular, they had a good variety of kimchi ready, which went well with the LA galbi and stone-pot rice. Tteokbokki and fried snacks were available too 🫶🏻

Since it's a proper Korean restaurant, having such a wide range of side dishes meant I could enjoy not just the main dish but a good spread of banchan too.

It was pretty accessible for anyone looking for a meal near the express bus terminal, and the clean exterior made it easy to walk in without any hesitation,

and the kind owner even lent me a portable battery charger, which was really touching!